JOHOR BAHRU (FIBA Asia U16 Championship) - Fredrick Oniga is back as the coach of a Jordan National Team after a gap of four years.

“I’m quite enjoying it,” the 44-year-old Nigerian said in an exclusive chat with this correspondent after Jordan beat India in their Group A opener.

“Especially working with this age-group gives a lot of satisfaction. Whatever you instill in these youngsters at this point is something they will carry with them for the rest of their life,” he added.

Excerpts

FIBA Asia: Are you happy with the way the team played in the first game?

Oniga: Well. Happy means everything is OK. I’m just glad that we go through the first game. Because, you know in this age-group, the first game is always a problem. I’m glad that we scaled through the first game. And that’ll give us a chance to see how the subsequent games will come about.

Right now we are a little bit balanced and we are stabilizing. So I’ll say I’m happy for the win.

Can you take us through the preparation for this Championship?

It’s been very challenging. As you are aware, there is a lot of confusion about our National Federation. And it’s not easy to prepare with such uncertainties around these boys.

We got to play the WABA Championship just one month before this Championship. But then again, there was no time for these kids to recover.

And let’s not forget the competition in WABA is highly intense.

But the good side of that competition is that, we get to know each other. We do get a chance to study our opponents, but more importantly we get to assess our own strengths and weaknesses.

It is definitely a plus-point especially in this age-group that we got to test our players against some very good teams in WABA.

Can you comment on the level of the players?

Right now, it is still fundamentals and basics. These are all very young players still opening their eyes to international basketball.

I honestly think we need more tournaments of this kind in FIBA Asia. And nothing like if we can do it in summer. Because that is the time these kids can get to play without any interferences in their school.

I would also like to add here that FIBA should look at increasing the number of teams in the World U17 Championship and thereby increasing the number of berths from each zone.

How much has Jordan qualifying for the 2010 FIBA World Championship had effect on these players?

It’s a great influence.

All over the basketball world, when you mention the word Jordan the immediate response is ‘Oh! You guys qualified for the World Championship.’

That is a great motivating factor for these youngsters.

It obviously adds to the pressure on them, but I just keep telling them to give their best and wait for their time.

I hope I can keep the flag flying high.

S Mageshwaran
FIBA Asia